Chair arm shield



June 23, 1959 E. A. so'ucu: 2,891,604

CHAIR ARM SHIELD Filed March 16. 1956 INVENTOR. EDWARD ,4. $0005 BY @M, W,Mf@ma,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent CHAIR ARM SHIELD EdwardA. Soucie, Buffalo, N.

Application March 16, 1956, Serial No. 572,078 1 Claim. (Cl. 155-198) This invention relates to a novel chair arm construction and more particularly to a novel chair arm shield or guard arrangement.

In the case of dental chairs a source of annoyance and discomfort exists by reason of the fact that a patients arms frequently extend laterally beyond the chair arm and the necessary moving about of the dentist in close proximity to such arm produces body contact between the dentist and patient. The present invention provides a chair arm of novel construction which, while giving thoroughly adequate and comfortable support to a patients arm, at the same time encloses and shields the same in a manner which prevents contact between the patients arm and the dentists body.

The arrangement of the present invention may be provided as an accessory or adjunct to existing dental chair arm constructions or may, in the alternative, be incorporated in the original design of a chair arm construction. Dental apparatus setups are usually either right hand or left hand so that in most cases only one arm of a dental chair need be arranged in accordance with the present invention, although both arms may be thus arranged Where necessary or desirable.

While reference is had herein particularly to dental chairs, it is to be understood that the principles of the present invention and their usefulness apply also to barber chairs, beauty operator chairs, and any other devices of this general class wherein the same or similar problems are presented.

In a preferred form of the present invention the arrangement is such as to provide, in addition to the shielding or guarding function, a broad and comfortable surface against which the operator may lean or may brace his body, particularly when performing certain types of work. The arrangement of the present invention may take various mechanical and physical forms within the intended scope of the invention. A single embodiment is illustrated in the drawing and described in detail in the following specification but it is to be understood that such embodiment is by way of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto, or otherwise than as defined in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary general perspective view of the right arm portion of a dental or similar chair embodying one form of the arrangement of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the front portion of the chair arm arrangement of Fig. I viewed from the inside; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view through the chair arm arrangement of Fig. 1.

Basically, the arrangement of the present invention provides a wall arising from the chair arm along or in the region of its outer lateral edge, such wall curving inwardly at the rear portion to provide a rear protective .wall for the arm of a person seated in the chair. In a 2 preferred form the arrangement further provides a front shrouding or shielding portion which partially encloses the patients hand and, in the illustrated form, also provides a holding or gripping portion.

The adjunct of the present invention, while oflight weight and thin-wall cross section throughout, is rendered stiif and sturdy being the cooperation of base portion with the several generally vertical but angularly disposed shielding or shrouding portions. Furthermore, in the illustrated form the outer generally vertical lateral wall of the device extends downwardly below the topv of the chair arm for a substantial distance and thus provides a smooth broad, uninterrupted outer surface against which a dentist or other operative may lean without discomfort and which is clean and attractive in appearance.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, the numeral 10 designates the seat portion of a dental or similar chair, the chair back being indicated at 11, and the numeral 12 designates an arm supporting structure extending upwardly alongside of seat portion 10. The base portion of an arm structure is designated 13 and is mounted upon the arm supporting structure 12 in any of a variety of ways, preferably detachably although not necessarily so.

The general form of the protective and shielding device illustrated in the drawing lends itself particularly well to application to the commoner existing forms of dental chair arms, although the same or other structures may be provided in the construction of new dental chairs.

In the illustrative form the device of the present invention includes a mounting block 15 which may be of wood, plastic or metal and the shield proper comprises an elongate metal member designated generally by the numeral 16 and which, considered in transverse cross section as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a generally horizontal base plate portion 17, a generally vertical wall portion 18 curving upwardly from the outer edge of base plate portion 17, and an outer wall portion 19 return-bent from the upper edge of wall portion 18.

In order to present an entirely smooth exterior surface the inner edge of base plate portion 17 is bent downwardly and inwardly as at 20 in Fig. 3. The mounting block 15 has a reduced lower portion which fits within the open upper side of base member 13 and screws 21 retain block 15 and the shield member 16 in securely assembled position on base member 13.

A rear generally vertical wall formation 26 extends upwardly from the rear edge of base plate portion 17 and merges curvingly with the rear wall portion 18 as clearly shown in Fig. l.

The front edge of wall portion 18 is curved as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is bent inwardly toward the center of the chair to provide a shrouding or shielding flange formation 27 which further protects and partially encloses the hand of the occupant of the chair.

The front edge of base plate portion 17 is bent downwardly and backwardly to form a rounded front end 28 which serves as a comfortable and convenient hand grip formation as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Preferably the front portion of the base plate portion 17 flares upwardly somewhat as indicated at 29 in Fig. 1 to more comfortably accommodate the hand of the patient or occupant of the chair.

The rear wall formation 26, being integral with the base and side walls 17 and 18, respectively, and the front flange formation 27, cooperate with the double wall formation 18, 19, to lend substantial rigidity to the structure despite the use of rather thin metal, in instances where the device is formed of metal. Where the device is otherwise formed, as in the case of a plastic molding, the rear wall 26 and front flange formation 27 similarly serve,

Patented June 23, 1959' 3 in addition to their primary functions, to substantially rigidify thestructure.

I claim:

A chair arm and shield structure comprising an elongate'upwardly facing channel shaped arm support member, a mounting block detachably securable over the upper portion of said channel member, a shield structure comprising a base plate portion secured to the top of said' mounting block, a vertical wall extending upwardly along the outer edge of said base plate portion, a rear wall formation merging with the rear edges of said surface member and saidvertical wall to enclose the rear of the arm rest area and form a reinforcing gusset at the rear portion of said structure, said base plate portion being downwardly return bent at its forward end to provide a hand gripping portion, said vertical wall being return bent downwardly at its longitudinal upper edge with the return bent portion extending continuously downwardly past said arm support member to form a continuous outer side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 162,447 Wilson Apr. 20, 1875 741,121 Fisher, Oct. 13, 1903 900,704 Budd Oct. 13, 1908 2,569,834 Smith Oct. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 39,210 Norway June 30, 1924 546,773 Germany Mar. 16, 1932 

